Gunmen attack Awami League election office

Local Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Gunmen attack Awami League election office | Sh Rashid injured, three guards killed

Assailants hit AML chief’s car; Asif, Shahbaz order inquiry

At least three people were killed and four including Awami Muslim League Chief Sh Rashid Ahmed were injured when his Khayaban-e-Sir Syed election office was attacked by unknown gunmen on Monday, Rescue 1122 sources said.

All the injured, including Sheikh Rashid Ahmed were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, the sources said. Sheikh Rashid suffered minor injuries and he did not suffer any bullet wound, they added.

‘Rashid sustained bullet injuries’: Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid sustained bullet injuries in an armed attack on his election office here on Monday, Sheikh Rashid’s personal assistant Javed Qureshi told a private TV channel.

Talking to the TV channel from 1122 ambulance in which Rashid was being shifted to a hospital, Qureshi said that Rashid was hit on one of his feet.

Rashid was coming out of his office when he was attacked by unknown assailants carrying Kalashnikov(s), he said. However, the attack killed at least four guards of AML Chief.

Some of the bullets hit the Land Cruiser of Sheikh Rashid shattering its window panes. President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered inquiry into the attack and submission of its report immediately.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also ordered the commissioner and RPO to investigate into the incident.

Later, workers of AML took to the streets to protest the attack.

Rashid sustained foot injury, says CPO: Former Federal Minister and Chief of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed sustained fracture in his foot when some unidentified gunmen fired at his election office at Khayan-e-Sir Syed here, said Chief Police Officer, Rao Muhammad Iqbal on Monday.

Talking to APP, he informed two persons identified as Anwar ul Haq and Shahid were killed while two others including Sheikh Rashid injured in the firing.

Rao Iqbal said the Medical Superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital had confirmed him that Sheikh Rashid got a fracture in his foot but did not receive any bullet injury.

The CPO said that one dead body had been shifted to the DHQ hospital while the other was moved to the Holy Family Hospital.

Responding to a question, he said Sheikh Rashid had not informed police about his movements.

“We had requested him (Sheikh Rashid) to inform police about his movements especially his corner meetings and other engagements during the by-election for security purposes, but he did not respond to our letter,” he added.

He said a judicial inquiry had been ordered into the incident.

Additional police force has been deployed at his election office, he added.

President, PM, CM, politicians condemn: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other political leaders have condemned the incident of firing on Sheikh Rashid and directed the concerning departments for investigations.

According to details President Asif Ali Zardari while condemning the incident has said that it was a conspiracy against democracy and few elements wanted to create instability in Pakistan.

The PM while condemning the incident of firing on Sheikh Rashid and said that all the resources would be used for the investigations of this incidents.

Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also condemned the incident and directed the Chief Commissioner and DIG to send report after the initial investigations.

PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed and President Muslim League Ham Khayal Group Salim Saif Ullah has condemned the incident and attack on Sheikh Rashid and urged the government to cope with the responsible person with iron hands.

Senior Advisor to CM Punjab Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa while talking to media has condemned the incident and hoped that this sort of incident should not be happened again during the election campaign.

In response to a question he said that Governor should not have reason to delay the bi elections in NA 55. He said that it was the responsibility of the government to provide security to all the candidates. The senior advisor said that Chief Minister has directed the concerned authorities for investigations.

Assassination bid exposes ‘police efficiency: Assassination bid on life of former federal minister and head of Awami Muslim League (AML) has exposed the much-touted efficiency of police and security apparatus.

Political activities had reached their peak in NA-55, and in this connection, the parties contesting the polls had also requested district police and security officials for provision of utmost security measures.

The AML head, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was attacked by two motorbike-riding assassins, when he arrived at his election office, located near Khayaban-e-Sir Syed.

However the targeting of AML head resulted in a failure due to timely and efficient sacrifice of security guards of AML leader.

The assassins escaped the scene of crime after their failed attempt, while no apparent attempt was ever made for their arrest.

Sources have informed that when news of assassination bid reached higher police officials, instead of heading for further investigations and actions, they rather paid sheikh Sahib a hospital visit.

According to sources, the assassination bid on Sheikh Rashid was carried on at 1800 hrs, while due to intermittent rain, police failed to arrive at the scene of crime on time.

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